Every beauty guru knows what it's like to have way too many makeup bags. Whether you keep buying makeup that comes with free gift bags or you simply can't stop buying adorable ones, there comes a point when your excess starts to go to become almost silly, and you have to find other uses for your makeup bags. After all, there are only so many you need to actually hold your products, and you always end up picking a favorite bag and then neglecting the others. They end up in a pile of used, dirty, and kind of gross little bags that you have no idea what to do with, but can't seem to get rid of.

I know this struggle all too well. As someone who subscribed to Ipsy's monthly beauty subscription for over a year (Ipsy sends their samples in cute, useful bags instead of boxes), and is a fashion/beauty/lifestyle editor who gets lots of free samples, I've accumulated so many makeup bags that it's actually just wasteful at this point. I try to rotate between them, but many of them still end up sitting in a box in the corner of my room, sad and covered in eyeliner stains.

Recently, I realized that I could be doing more with my bags instead of ignoring them or passing them off to random friends (who don't even want anymore at this point). If you have a ton of old makeup bags that you have no idea what to do with, read on. These 12 ideas will not only give your bags a purpose, they'll also make your life a little bit easier, and a lot more organized. How does it get better than that?

1. Use them as a pouch in your handbag to hold small items.

2. Keep them in your room as mini storage units for little things you could easily lose.

3. Sew chains onto them to make them into tiny cross body bags.

4. Stock your old bags with period supplies and keep them in your office as an emergency kit.

The best (and worst) places to store your makeup, skincare and perfumes

There’s nothing worse than a mouldy blending sponge or that rancid smell that comes from a perfume you’ve left on the bottom shelf for too long. After you’ve completed the critical job of

There’s nothing worse than a mouldy blending sponge or that rancid smell that comes from a perfume you’ve left on the bottom shelf for too long. After you’ve completed the critical job of picking the best and most efficient makeup and skincare products, knowing where to store them, and how to safely use them, is of utmost importance. “All makeup products and tools should be stored in a designated cool and dry place, away from moisture. That means you definitely should not store your makeup in the bathroom. Instead, maintain a vanity kit or a drawer for your makeup products to make sure they’re not contaminated with bacteria from other products or due to high humidity,” recommends Dr Harshna Bijlani, medical head, The AgeLess Clinic. Apart from the shelf life mentioned on the back of the product (like 12M or 9M for example), changes in colour and texture are the tell-tale signs of your makeup expiring. Post-dated makeup products can cause infection (especially of the eyes), acne breakouts and irritation. “When you see a a white-ish residue on lipsticks or have difficulty in applying them, or spot the formulas of other products separating (when the water/oil separated from the powder), that’s the time to trash the product,” she explains.

Storing rules are not just restricted to skincare and makeup. If your favourite citrus fragrance is not giving you a similar whiff of freshness as when you first bought it, chances are that it might be exposed to sunlight. Perfumer Rajiv Sheth, CEO and creative director of All Good Scents, reveals that it’s not necessary to store the fragrances in their original boxes, but is critical to save them from sunlight and heat. “Stored in a correct way, a fragrance can last as long as five years. To increase the shelf life, it’s best to store them away from sunlight in cool, dark places. You can even keep them even in refrigerator at the peak of Indian summer,” he explains.

How long can you use your skincare products, and how to store them

If you’re keeping your cleansers and exfoliators by your washbasin, you’ll want to use them up quickly—especially if they come in jars or tubes. If it’s a product that doesn’t need to be used immediately, Dr Biljani suggests stowing them in cool, dark areas like a vanity or bedside table, as mould and bacteria grow quickly in a warm, steamy bathroom.

Cleansers